What is Comprehension? Give your Opinion and compare it to what research say it is

What is Comprehension

We can only say that there is comprehension when new learning takes place . The fundamental concept of new learning is that the child is one whole organism whose various phases of behavior must receive attention if he is to emerge as a desirable social individual . In other words , not only just must his mental development be looked after , as was true with the traditional way of teaching , but his physical activities , his social relationships , and his emotional adjustments must also be developed to make him a worthy member of

a democratic society . These aspects of his behavior are not to be developed separately in simultaneous compartmentalized installments , but as parts of larger experiences . New learning gives the pupils what they need as the occasion demands . The learning is thus more permanent and meaningful

If there is comprehension , new learning calls for application of facts to learned actual situations to complete the teaching pattern and to make learning meaningful . This meeting of truly problematic situations by the learner is one of the outstanding and decided advantages of the modern over the traditional way of teaching (Gernsbacher , 1990 . Because learning problems are real , both the pupils and teachers must think of ways to resolve them . Teaching then will not be mechanically following a ready-made course of study which , although prepared by experts , may not meet the actual needs of a particular group or class . Experiences of the pupils and community resources are taken into consideration in selecting subject-matter to be taught or activities to be experienced (Hacker 1998

Reference

Gernsbacher , Morton Ann (1990 . Language Comprehension as Structure Building . Lawrence Erlbaum Associates . Hillsdale , NJ

Hacker , Douglas J (1998 . Metacognition in Educational Theory and Practice . Lawrence Erlbaum Associates . Mahwah , NJ...